Cause ofSifigiTig hi Birds. 485 



spring is to perch upon some conspicuous spot, breathing out 

 their full and natural notes, which, by instinct, the female 

 knows, and repairs to the spot to choose her mate." (Mon- 

 tagu.) The female amongst birds has evidently the advantage 

 over the human species, for she is the chooser, and not the 

 object of choice. The same author tells us, that " birds can- 

 not discriminate the colours by which their species is known ;" 

 and this is evidently put forth to account for the male " perch- 

 ing upon some conspicuous spot." But what say others? 

 The nightingale sings " concealed in the thickest part of a 

 bush or small tree." (Field Nat. Mag., i. 201.) Both state- 

 ments are fact. The nightingale does sing in the concealment 

 of a thick bush, and the song thrush sings, morning and even- 

 ing, mounted on the highest spray he can find. I cannot 

 suppose that he does this to lure the female to him, for I have 

 never observed it to have that effect ; besides, he does it for 

 a very considerable portion of spring and summer ; certainly 

 after he is mated. Neither can I suppose that his song is 

 poured forth for the purpose of soothing the female during 

 the period of incubation ; for, if that were the case, the sooth- 

 ing would be required as much by night as by day, and as 

 much in the middle of the day as in the morning and the 

 evening : besides all this, he frequently sings at Christmas, 

 when he is neither mated nor seeking a mate. Let us come, 

 however, to a still later opinion. " The songs of birds have 

 given rise to several curious enquiries of no small interest. 

 After investigating the subject with considerable attention for 

 several years, we have come to the conclusion that the notes 

 of birds, which we denominate singing, may all be referred to 

 hilarity and joy, or to rivalry and defiance." (Rennie's Habits 

 of Birds, 260.) In making this theory hold good, I think 

 we shall find as many difficulties as in any other. Why is 

 the nightingale more joyous than other birds during the night? 

 Is the redbreast habitually more joyous than other birds ? for 

 he sings nearly the whole year round. If it be joy that sti- 

 mulates to song, why do not the females sing as well as the 

 males : have they no joy ? And why are some birds altogether 

 denied song : are they joyless ? The thrush breaks forth into 

 song frequently in the winter, and the woodlark makes the 

 December mornings resound with his song. How is it that 

 these birds are so joyous when all others are gloomy ? The 

 meadow pipit, again, when disturbed from her nest, will mount 

 up into the air to a considerable height, and then descend 

 slowly, warbling with all her powers, until she reaches the 

 ground. Is it any source of joy to the bird to be thus dis- 

 turbed from her nest ? This may be said to be " defiance." 



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